Hello again! Just to let you all know I’m still having an amazing time in France here – but I’m sure you could have guessed that. I’m beginning to get more familiar with the city and its vibe, as well as school is starting to maybe prove for a little work. Let me talk about my favourite things about the city – besides the fact that there are boulongeries, patisseries and cafes on every corner, and besides that the wine and cheese are cheap, and besides the fact that I have a beautiful, huge climbing gym 10 minutes away from me.

My first favourite thing is the transportation system – they have buses, trams, metros and trains and it’s easy to use – although not super cheap (1.60euro) – but amazingly efficient, cleverly designed and comfy. Although due to my cheap nature and my desire to explore all the little streets I rarely use it. However the BEST thing about the transit system here is their bike program. I’m sure many of you know about this (and many of you probably know it exists in Montreal all as well). There are locations everywhere and you just pick up a bike when you need it and drop it off when you don’t! Depending on what kind of membership you have it’s usually the first half an hour is free, and then the following hour is 75 cents and then 1.25 euros – which is nothing! However the catch is you need to have a bank account in order to get a card – alas it’ s not plausible for me… although I might be able to get one through a friend –I’m working on it!

One of my favourite people here so far is Florian, who I met through the climbing gym who has been awesome in inviting me out and has been a great climbing partner. He’s currently studying engineering at a school in Lyon and lives with his sister and 2 other roommates. The fact that he climbs much better than me is great and gives me lots of opportunities to practice French and leading.

Florian’s lent me his sisters’ bike until she needs it back (I’ve had it for almost 2 weeks now). :D I really am lucky. It’s a great bike – it even has front wheel suspension! Every time I use it I get to trudge it up 4 flights of stairs which I’m thrilled to do because it’s so awesome to enjoy life on a bike. I find it’s a perfect pace for this life. I’ve gone on lots of little tours around the city, down the cobbled streets, alongside the crazy European drivers (agh small cars make so much more sense!), and to and from the climbing gym; which is really good because I go often in the evening and it’s just located on skirts of a sketchier part of town so with a bike I feel much more safe.

One of my other favourite people here is Esther – an amazing girl from Spain who the instant we met it was obvious we were going to be good, fast friends. (I believe the 2nd phrase out of her mouth was “…when I slept on the beach…”). We already have had a couple adventures such as walking (in our fast paced manor) to check out a chocolatarie on the other side of town (as suggested by Patricia Salat – ps. AMAZING! Thanks ), double biking to the climbing gym, and swapping identical (I swear!) stories (in French) during (an English) class. Her determination to only speak French is awesome and something that I haven’t found in any of the other exchange students.